Parents' Guide to

Rescued by Ruby

By Jennifer Borget, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Heartwarming true story has peril, positive messages.

Movie NR 2022 93 minutes
Rescued by Ruby Movie Poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Woman at animal shelter holds dog
  • Two men sit on a bench in Netflix Rescued by Ruby
  • Dog Ruby puts her chin on a lap

Community Reviews

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age 7+

Based on 19 parent reviews

woodsfam915
woodsfam915 Parent of 3 and 8-year-old
April 1, 2022
age 6+

Inspiring for kids labeled "different"

I am the mom to an amazing neurodivergent son with ADHD and dyslexia who loves animals. We watched this movie as a family and I nearly cried so many times because I saw my son in this movie. This movie does an amazing job of inspiring kids who may be labeled as "hyperactive" "stupid" or "unable to accomplish anything." Even if you don't have a loved one that's neurodivergent, this move is amazing for any animal lover. This is probably our new favorite family movie.
slambert123
slambert123 Adult
March 25, 2022
age 3+

Beautiful and Heartfelt True Story with A Happy Ending

I love Grant Gustin and dogs, so I knew I would enjoy this true story. It exceeded my expectations. It is inspiring, heartfelt, and wholesome. Netflix needs to make more family-friendly content. You can make a great film of substance without profanity, sex, or violence. You can tell a good story without being offensive. I enjoy the powerful themes of trust, not giving up on each other, and not letting your frustration get in the way of your present blessings. Both Ruby and Dan have very similar personalities because they have nervous, fidgety behavior, but they have good hearts. People constantly underestimate them and refuse to connect to them. They have the potential, strong will, and tenacity to never give up and prove everyone wrong. It is more of an underdog story, and I enjoy it when a kind, hardworking person like Dan can overcome adversity and win in life. I strongly recommend this feel-good movie because it will leave a smile on your face and put you in a positive mood.
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this true story, a man rescues a dog but finds that he's actually RESCUED BY RUBY. Daniel O'Neil (Grant Gustin) adopts mischievous shelter dog Ruby and saves her from being put down. He's a police officer that had been denied entry into the Rhode Island K9 unit multiple times. He's hyperactive and dyslexic, so it makes learning in a class setting challenging for him. Yet, something about Ruby inspires him to keep trying to reach his goal. Ruby is also hyperactive and in need of obedience training and purpose. The pair experiences setbacks in their journey, but they have family and community members supporting and cheering them on in their effort to make their dreams a reality. Together, they overcame numerous struggles and made history when they made a rescue so unimaginable, Ruby was named Search and Rescue Dog of the Year.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (6 ):

Rescued by Ruby is an inspiring story that tugs at the heartstrings and has the audience rooting for the underdogs. From the beginning, the story pulls viewers in with a naughty but lovable dog that just can't seem to catch a break. The visual effects are entertaining, as the audience often gets to see things from Ruby's perspective. Younger audiences will appreciate the amount of screen time Ruby gets, and when she's not on camera, she's still the focus of the action.

The story moves along briskly, with very few moments of downtime in the 93-minute film. Though the movie is about Daniel and Ruby's journey, Melissa O'Neil (Kaylah Zander) is a delight in her supporting role as Daniel's wife. Her positivity and encouragement are infectious and show that big achievements often come with a lot of help behind the scenes. The end credits feature fun pictures and updates of the real characters the story is based on, which kids are certain to enjoy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the power of perseverance. How did the characters get through their challenges? How might things have gone differently had they given up? Have there ever been times where you've persevered? How did it feel to push through the challenge?

  • Motivators can help us work toward goals. One of Ruby's motivators was raw hot dogs. Why do you think Dan was so motivated to achieve his dream of becoming a K9 officer? What are some of your motivations? How do they help you?

  • Do you think movies that are based on a true story are more or less entertaining than fictional stories? Why?

  • At the end of the movie, there was a message to recognize and consider adopting animals from shelters. Why do you think the moviemakers want people to consider shelter animals versus getting pets from a breeder?

Movie Details

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